What if….you were given the opportunity to build a health system from scratch in this new era of platforms, cloud computing, AI and machine learning, curious-digital-empowered consumers, and collaborators in retail and community settings operating close to peoples’ homes and workplaces?
With the HLTH 2023 Conference meeting up in Vegas these past couple of days, this “what if” scenario can be constructed with announcements coming out of the meeting, coupled with recent developments in the larger health/care ecosystem.
Start with General Catalyst’s news of engaging Dr. Marc Harrison, most recently CEO of Intermountain Health, to take on the CEO role for the launch of a new health services company: HATco, the Health Assurance Transformation Corporation.
Nothing in health care happens overnight, and this concept has been hatching since 2017, GC’s press release explains. The preliminary vision for HATco has five core principles outlined, and I quote:
- “A true alignment of stakeholder interests” (think: incentives designed to bolster access, outcomes, and prevention).
- “More ‘patient’ capital with decades-long time horizon” (think: ‘patient’ in terms of longer-term expectations).
- “A reorientation around platform innovations” (think: fostering scaled platforms to streamline solutions as well as develop new revenue streams).
- “A commitment to ‘radical collaboration” (think: partnering with healthcare systems and others that represent best practices and innovations).
- “A decisive pivot to value-based care” (think: delivering a consumer experience aligned with their values as well as value at scale).
The announcement disabuses the reader from the idea that HATco is not a disruptor — but will be “in service” to health care providers to support their evolution to more innovative delivery to their consumers and communities.
“We hope our work will inspire others to join our health assurance movement and usher in a new era of better health for everyone in our communities,” the GC team envisions.
Now mix in some of the news announced at or just prior to HLTH convening in Las Vegas…
Samsung shared news that it will work with b.well Connected Health for consumers to create longitudinal health records, using an app on their Galaxy smartphones.
“With b.well,” Dr. Hon Pak head of digital health at Samsung noted, “we are planning to create a consumer health experience that is frictionless, connected, and easy to navigate.”
Samsung Health users who opt into this program could track their health data, receive reminders for tests and prompts from physicians, and perform other self-care tasks. Samsung Health already works with Walgreens, ThedaCare, Lee health, and Rise Health whose data could be accessed by patients using their services. As Kristen Valdes, Founder and CEO of b.well explained, “Health data is just the beginning – it’s the personalized insights and actionable care connections that will create meaningful change for consumers.”
Last week, Samsung also announced the company’s plan to collaborate with four academic and health systems: the MIT Media Lab (focused on sleep), Brigham & Women’s Hospital (addressing frailty and resilience), Tulane University School of Medicine (targeting cardiovascular health), and the Samsung Medical Center (researching several domains including heart health, sleep, and mental health, among others).
Next, consider the news that Best Buy will sell continuous glucose monitoring systems supplied by Dexcom.
What’s novel here is that CGMs are prescribed by physicians or other licensed prescribers — and once prescribed, the devices would be channeled to Wellness.BestBuy.com through an ecommerce platform facilitated by Wheel in collaboration with HealthDyne, which operates in pharmacy technology.
As you consider that patient managing diabetes taking advantage of the Dexcom G7 via Best Buy Health, she’ll also be keen to track her weight — so the new about Withings Health partnering with Validic would be a welcome update given Validic’s ability to connected third-party devices and apps to help people streamline their data. The two organizations have worked together since 2013, now bringing Withings’ cellular-connected devices into the health data ecosystem. This includes their popular smart scales (the Body Pro) and blood-pressure monitor (the BPM Connect Pro).
Complementing these announcements, I would add updates from:
- Kroger Health on food-as-medicine (which in my own future-health-system scenario plays a big role with a connected Samsung refrigerator and connected car)
- Uber and UnitedHealthcare’s Optum collaborating on patient-payment for ancillary services – like transportation and food delivery, and,
- Hy-Vee grocer’s program to provide patients access to insulin for a cost of $35 for a month’s supply, based on eligibility.
I couldn’t attend HLTH 2023 in person in Vegas this week/year because I was, literally, delivering a talk (nowhere near Las Vegas) on a scenario about a future health care state that would enchant patients-as-consumers and -payers, providers working at the top of their license, and care-flows and policies that embed equity- and privacy-by-design.
In so doing, we can aspire to realize The Quintuple Aim — delivering on value and values that align for both patients and the larger health/care ecosystem.